ICE Mojave Desert Detention Center: Conditions and Controversy
- A class-action lawsuit filed in November 2025 alleges severe mistreatment of detainees at the California City Detention Facility (CCDF), a recently repurposed immigration detention center operated by CoreCivic...
- In April 2025, CoreCivic reopened a decommissioned prison in California City as an immigration detention center following a contract with ICE.
- The lawsuit, filed by the Prison law Office, Keker, Van Nest & Peters, the ACLU, and the california Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, details harrowing conditions within CCDF.
California City Detention Facility Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Conditions
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A class-action lawsuit filed in November 2025 alleges severe mistreatment of detainees at the California City Detention Facility (CCDF), a recently repurposed immigration detention center operated by CoreCivic under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). detainees describe the facility as a “torture chamber” and “hell on earth,” and the lawsuit claims the conditions are driving individuals to forgo asylum claims and attempt self-harm.
CCDF’s Establishment and Contract
In April 2025, CoreCivic reopened a decommissioned prison in California City as an immigration detention center following a contract with ICE. The contract is estimated to be worth $130 million annually to CoreCivic. The facility had been unused since 2023, making the ICE contract a meaningful revenue source for the for-profit prison company. CCDF addresses ICE’s increasing need for detention space in california, where immigration enforcement activities have been intensified.
Allegations of Abuse and desperation
The lawsuit, filed by the Prison law Office, Keker, Van Nest & Peters, the ACLU, and the california Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, details harrowing conditions within CCDF. Detainees are reportedly so desperate that they are choosing self-deportation over pursuing legal asylum claims. The filing also indicates a rise in suicide attempts among those held at the facility.
Location and Capacity
CCDF is located two hours north of Los Angeles.When fully occupied, it will be the largest immigration detention center on the West Coast and one of the most geographically isolated.